Chapter 16 – Youngest Seeker in a Century
History of Magic was by far the most boring subject she could have imagined, which was especially telling considering she was someone who thoroughly enjoyed history. She didn't mind reading it, but the ghost Professor Binns who just continued teaching after he died one day was coma inducing. I don't need sedatives anymore, just an afternoon lecture here, she thought, or injectable caffeine to make it through without falling asleep...
"Can we get coffee beans somewhere? I think we might need to crush and snort them to survive seven years of this," she whispered under her breath next to Ron. He choked on laughter and Hermione shot them a reproving look. Ron asked Lizzie if she wanted to play hangman, but she took pause and said no. Tick tack toe didn't wake the closet skeletons, though she did need to show Ron how to play.
At breakfast on Friday, Lizzie scanned the paper for more news about Gringotts but came up with nothing.
"What is it Hagrid took, do you know?" Ron asked. Hermione seemed to be listening in on the conversation.
"It was just a small package, only thing in the vault. Size of a paper weight really. Or roughly the size of one of those things," she said pointing to something Neville unwrapped.
"Cool! Who sent you a remembrall?" Ron asked, looking at the ball Neville had.
"Gran, what is it though?" Neville asked. Lizzie shrugged.
"The smoke turns red when you've forgotten something," Hermione interjected.
Neville looked confused when the smoke turned red, and Lizzie laughed a little. "You don't remember what you forgot do you?" She asked with a smile. He shrugged.
Malfoy approached from behind and snatched the ball from his hand roughly. "Oh look, Christmas came early for Longbottom," he sneered, inspecting the ball.
"Give it back to him, Malfoy," Lizzie grumbled.
"What's the matter, Azalea? Jealous? Noticed you never get anything," he jabbed. "Two things you and Granger have in common...smart mouthed and out of place here... two things you and Longbottom have in common... good blood but no family," he laughed.
Professor McGonagall walked up and tapped Malfoy's shoulder with a reproving glare. "Sorry professor, just looking at it is all," Malfoy said innocently and walked away.
Classes ended for the week and first years headed out onto the ground for their first flying lesson with Madame Hooch.
There were dozens of broomsticks in two rows facing one another and they each lined up to left side of one.
Hooch was a stern looking woman with white hair and near yellow eyes. She looked them all over like a talent scout as she walked down the line and paused a little at Lizzie.
"Your father was a terrific seeker, Potter. So was your bother, Charlie, Mr. Weasley. Gryffindor was best in league for about twelve years thanks to them," she commended. Lizzie smirked at Ron when she caught sight of Malfoy's disdainful stare in their direction.
"You play sports?" She asked Lizzie abruptly.
"Tennis..." Lizzie said, looking around a little embarrassed.
"Ah, I know of it. Small ball... but you hit it, am I right?" Hooch asked.
"Yes, that's right," Lizzie acknowledged.
"Were you any good?" She asked.
"Best in year for three years, but only a few of us played... so... that's not saying much," Lizzie said. It wasn't a lie. She was better than Coldwater.
"Even so... reflexes. Need reflexes to fly..." she said reassuringly. "Alright! Welcome to your first flying lesson! Flying is an affinity one has with a broom. Try to rid yourself of apprehension about heights now, it will serve you better later. Even if you don't plan to play, it's still an essential mode of transport and I expect proficiency from everyone, you understand?" She announced sternly.
"Step up to the left side of your brooms, hold out your hand and say, 'up,'" she commanded.
Lizzie stepped up to hers and held out her hand, but the broom responded without a sound uttered and was in her hand instantly. Hooch stared a little impressed and she caught some looks of approval from others. Hermione and Neville were last to get their brooms to respond. Draco's took a couple harsh commands but shot up, nonetheless. Ron's hit him in the face and Lizzie nearly double over laughing.
"Shut up, Lizzie!" He yelled, his face beet red.
"Now, you have hold of your brooms, mount them and grip it tight, don't go sliding off the end..." she demanded. Everyone obliged.
"When I blow my whistle, you'll kick off from the ground hard, hover, and then touch back down, understand?" She added.
Before she blew her whistle Neville's broom seemed to have a mind of its own. It took him several yards in the air not minding his panicked protest and bucked him off from a considerable height with a loud thud on the grass. Madame Hooch ran forward to inspect and coddled a very broken wrist.
"Everyone needs to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing... any brooms in the air, the one riding it will be out of Hogwarts before they can say 'quidditch,'" She warned.
"Hope he's alright," Lizzie said to Ron, he looked sympathetic.
"Definitely doesn't help his reputation. Lord help him," Ron said.
Malfoy walked over to where Neville fell and picked up the ball he had earlier that morning. He laughed and headed back over to the group of students. "Shame, maybe if the lubber had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered not fall on his arse," he said with a cackle. His group of cronies followed with sniggers.
"Give it here, Malfoy," Lizzie said assertively.
"No, I'll leave it somewhere for him to find... maybe the roof?" Malfoy offered and took off on his broom.
"What's the matter, Azalea? Beyond your reach?" He prodded. Lizzie felt something snap behind her eyes and mounted her broom.
"Lizzie! What are you doing? You heard her! Besides you've never even flown before," Hermione berated.
"Yeah, well we'll see how it goes," Lizzie grumbled, and took off knowing full well she was stupid for doing it.
"What an idiot," Hermione said sharply.
"Righteous to a fault is right..." Ron said to Seamus and Dean. But she sped off masterfully somehow and stared across at Malfoy who could barely mask how impressed he was.
"Just give it here, this is ridiculous!" Lizzie shouted.
"You must really want it then," he said with an evil smile and chucked it clear across the grounds. Lizzie whipped past him at top speed nearly knocking him off his broom and sped toward the ball she had her eyes tightly locked on. She dived toward the ground and rolled in the air as she caught it just feet in front of McGongall's office window. Lizzie dismounted, staring at it in amazement and received a wave of praise from the other students before they all heard, "Azalea Potter," from McGonagall in her sternest voice imaginable. Lizzie's insides froze and Malfoy sniggered with his friends at her impending repercussions. Hermione gave her a fleeting look that was equal parts angry and apprehensive.
Lizzie walked behind McGonagall with weight suddenly bearing down like a mountain. "Professor..." she said desperately. McGonagall held up her hand to silence her.
I'm going to get caned. Damn it. Why are you an idiot, Lizzie? She thought to herself. McGonagall stopped outside of a classroom; Lizzie wasn't even paying attention to where they were.
"Professor, I'm so sorry... I don't know what came over me. Draco took Neville's stupid ball thing and it got under my skin. Something snapped. Stupid, so stupid. I'll take detention through the rest of the year. Just don't send me home. Please don't send me home. They'll send me to a catholic detention school where they rip out nail beds for biting them, and crack tail bones for breathing wrong... I can't..." Lizzie ranted erratically but stopped when she held up her hand again for her to stop talking.
She opened the door of the defense against the dark arts classroom and Lizzie suddenly noticed where they were. She looked around confused.
"Professor Quirrell, can I borrow Oliver Wood a moment?" She asked. This confused Lizzie more.
"You two come with me," she said when Oliver came out looking equally perplexed. Lizzie smiled weakly back at him and shrugged at his expression that asked what was going on without any words. They headed back toward McGonagall's office silently and sat down in front of her desk. Her face was still stern and intimidating. Lizzie fidgeted her hands restlessly.
McGonagall looked back at both of them and stared at Lizzie with a very intense stare she couldn't read before a smile cracked around her mouth. Oh God, she's enjoying this, how did I reach the point of no return already? Lizzie thought, fighting tears now.
"Wood..." she said. "I found you a seeker!" She said like she exploded with the anticipation of it.
"What?!" Lizzie and Wood both asked in unison. She laughed a little and beamed at Lizzie.
Lizzie buried her face in her hands. "I thought you were going to expel me!" She cried; actual tears hit her hands. Wood chuckled.
"Why?" He asked, amused.
"Yes, I know dear, in any other case you would have been... the anticipation was your punishment since I'm not handing you one," McGonagall said with an evil grin.
"Is she really that good? 1st year? That's a... first..." he asked.
"I haven't seen a dive and an eye as sharp as hers since Charlie Weasley! She caught a clear ball, mind you!" She praised. Lizzie went flush in the shock of it.
"Was it your first time on a broom?" He asked, impressed.
"I think so, unless there's a toddler league for quidditch or something," Lizzie said sarcastically.
"If there was your father would have put you on it in a heartbeat, no doubt about that," McGonagall laughed.
"She's small and fast, perfect for a Seeker!" He said looking her over with noticeable excitement rising.
"I thought the same," McGonagall said.
"So, we need to get her a broom..." he said.
"Really? You don't say?" McGonagall said sarcastically and winked at Lizzie.
"Meet me on the pitch Sunday... early... we should keep this discrete. 5am work?" He asked. Lizzie choked on a laugh assuming he was joking.
"Oh, you're serious? Sorry, deathly allergic to mornings... but sure..." she agreed.
"Alright off with you both!" McGonagall barked but was still giddy.
"You're going to love it!" Wood said enthusiastically. "The team will have a good seeker finally. Haven't won a cup since Charlie left. Can't find anyone with a sharp eye. Must be in your blood... I'll tell the team, meet me Sunday, wear something comfortable. Keep the news sealed, Lizzie!" he said as he headed off back to class.
Lizzie smiled wide to herself. She'd never been picked for a team before. She wasn't expelled, or caned. She understood what the twins meant by McGonagall's soft side for quidditch and practically skipped back to the common room before heading down to dinner.
Lizzie ran into Ron on the way out and he gaped at the sight of her. "I thought you'd already be on the train back!" He yelled. Lizzie shook her head with a smile and grabbed his sleeve to head around an empty corner.
"OK, got to tell you someone because I'm about to explode. But it's supposed to be a secret..." she said happily.
"What's the matter with you? It's sort of creepy when you smile, clashes with your resting face," he said. She scowled at him a little.
"What's the matter? The matter is McGonagall put me on the team! I'm the new seeker!" Lizzie whispered and laughed girlishly.
"No! First Years aren't even allowed brooms!" He said in disbelief.
"She saw the catch!" Lizzie said.
"Now I'm going to explode, who can I tell?" He asked.
"No one... but your brothers will know soon so chat them up later," Lizzie said and headed back to go to dinner. Even the detention with Snape didn't bother her. It was surreal until she realized she'd never played and worried about making a fool of herself.
Down at dinner Hermione choked on her drink when she saw Lizzie looking happy. "You convinced her not to toss you out?" She asked.
"Something like that," Lizzie smiled and winked. Hermione frowned at her evasive response.
"Last meal before packing bags, or a celebratory dinner to be rid of you?" Malfoy sneered as he passed her.
"Something like that," Lizzie laughed and glared at him with an evil smirk. He was confused and she laughed harder to herself as he walked away.
The twins sat down on either side of her. "Wood just told us, congrats Liz," Fred said with a wide smile.
"It's ok if you blow goats though, we haven't won in years anyway," George added.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Lizzie grumbled.
"You caught a clear ball though? From a distance? Shoe in... they do say flying is in the blood..." Fred said. "Wood is a brutal captain though. Get ready to work... he claims he got it from Charlie when he was captain, but I don't buy it, my brother is softer than a teddy bear when he's not wrangling dragons," he added.
"You have a good pain tolerance I hope?" George asked. "We're beaters so our job is to make sure you don't get bloodied up too bad, but it's a rough game," he explained.
"My pain tolerance is high, yes..." she said a little nervously.
"Hope so..." They laughed. This made her a little uneasy, but she got over it and ate more than she had all week. Alicia and Angelina both smiled over at her with telling expressions. Towler and Lee appeared to know too because they laughed a little and looked skeptical.
Oliver had his arms folded in the courtyard at five in the morning on Sunday waiting for Lizzie. "I did mention I hate mornings, right?" Lizzie asked bitterly as she walked sluggishly over.
"You want to go get coffee or something first?" He asked, noticing her face looked completely lifeless.
"Are they even serving anything right now?" She asked with a yawn.
"I'll get some from the kitchens. You'll fall off a broom like this," he said.
"Bless your soul, thank you," she smiled, but it took effort to move her face muscles.
"I usually start practice at seven sharp on Sundays, that work?" He asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Lizzie asked.
"No..." he said with a chuckle.
"Then it works..." she said contemptuously.
On the way down to the pitch, Oliver explained the game. "It's relatively easy to understand. Played on brooms. There are three chasers - Angelina, Alicia, and Katie. Then two beaters, the twins. One Keeper - me. Then a seeker - that's you," he said.
"I'm following, what do they do?" Lizzie asked.
"Chasers score, I block, Beaters protect, and you seek..." he said cryptically. "I'll show you in a second," he assured when she looked confused.
"What did you say you played?" Oliver asked.
"Tennis. Singles Tennis," Lizzie said.
"How does that work?" He asked.
"Well, tennis is a popular muggle sport, Olympic sport... there's a net in the middle of a court roughly the size of the entry courtyard. Divides it in half, only comes up about waist high on an average height person... each player gets a racket about the size of head, has a metal mesh for air to pass through for an easy swing. Then a small ball, about the size of my palm gets hit back and forth after a player serves. Players score when the opponent misses the ball. Doubles is the same except there are two players on each end of the court," Lizzie explained.
"Interesting, were you good?" He asked
"I was... it was my favorite thing to do," she said.
"Win anything for it?" He asked.
Lizzie laughed, "No... I always had to forfeit the last game..." she said a little bitterly.
"Why's that?" He asked.
"Nuns are mean... and it's rather hard to play with cracked knuckles or a broken tailbone...tennis requires a lot of running, not to mention holding the racket," Lizzie said.
"That's horrible," he said. "Knack for trouble I take it considering you thought McGonagall was already going to expel you," he added.
"Well... it seems to find me more than I find it, but I am somehow always in the wrong place at the wrong time," Lizzie laughed.
Down at the pitch, Lizzie looked up at high stands for seating and circular goal hoops at least 75 feet high. Wood brought out a trunk full of different sized balls and pulled out a large red one about the size of adult head.
"This is the quaffle, the chasers handle the quaffle, and try get it through one of the three hoops on the opposing side," Oliver said.
"You defend the hoops, like a goalie?" She asked, catching on.
"What's a goalie?" He asked.
"Never mind," Lizzie mumbled.
"What are those brown ones?" She asked, staring at a couple balls that looked ready to jump out of their casing.
"Um... well... take this," he said, handing her a bat. He unlocked one and it went flying at an obnoxiously fast speed.
"Keep an eye on it, they're brutal to get hit with," he warned. Lizzie swung the small bat hard at it with a swing she used on the court, and it went flying through a goal hoop.
"Good arm," Oliver praised, and fished the bludger back into the box when it came back around. "We'll wait for the twins with those, I don't want to kill you up there yet," he said.
"Alright, so... the only thing I want you to worry about is this ball," he said, pulling out a golden ball the size of a golf ball.
Lizzie took it and looked it over until it sprung wings.
"The Golden Snitch. It's wicked fast and damn near impossible to see..." he explained. "You catch it... before the other seeker. Snitch catch will end the game and nearly always renders a winner - 150 points awarded," he added. Lizzie let go of it and watched it flicker around in the air before Oliver summoned it back.
She took to the air not long after and practiced catching golf balls Oliver chucked for about an hour before the team arrived.
"Heya, Wood! We brought Lee! He knows! Sorry!" The twins yelled as they came down the walk.
"Check her out..." George said approvingly.
"Lizzie! You need to get a uniform!" He shouted up at her.
"No kidding!" She shouted down.
"She good?" They asked Wood with Lizzie out of earshot.
"Been at it since about 5:30 this morning and she hasn't missed a golf ball. I'd say she's pretty damn good," he admitted.
Lizzie landed to say hi and huddle around for instructions. They took off a few minutes later for a scrimmage match and ended practice around 9:30.
"You beat?" Angelina asked in the locker room.
"Uh huh...like a bludger…" Lizzie said, feeling like she could sleep the rest of the day.
"Hope we win this year... on you if won't don't..." Alicia smiled and they headed back to the castle, but ditched Lizzie before it was obvious where she'd been all morning.